Cadillac introduces new bumper technology to prevent crashes

Cadillac’s new virtual bumper technology – whereby the car brakes automatically if it senses the driver is about to tap the bumper of the vehicle in front of it – isn’t new. I’ve tested two cars with the technology in the past eight years and both stopped me handily. But the technology should be required on every car sold in America.

The feature is part of the optional Driver Assist Package that will be available for the 2013 Cadillac ATS and XTS sedans and the SRX crossover. How does it work? Like other cutting-edge driver-assist systems, the new Cadillac feature uses sophisticated cameras, sensors and processors -- a collection of advanced technologies that work together -- to keep the car from crashing.

First you get a warning via visual and audio alerts, including one in the instrument panel that shows the relative proximity to an object behind or in front of the car. In case that’s not enough to distract you from whatever else you’re doing beside paying attention to the road, you’ll also get a warning via Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat that buzzes your rear end. If you ignore those warnings and a crash is imminent, the Automatic Front and Rear Braking system applies the brakes.

The technology comes in response to autobuyers’ desire for more active safety technology – and they want the car to do it. That may sound like the lazy person’s method of avoiding accidents and freeing up more time to pay attention to cockpit conversations, electronics, shaving, makeup, reading, playing air guitar and all the other things people get up to when navigating their cars. But in truth, how many of us pay 100% attention 100% of the time to anything? We’re hardly Zen masters out there on the road – me included. The technology makes sense, will save lives and potentially billions of dollars in insurance payments in years to come.

But such driver assist systems are becoming more widespread and more popular with a broader range of car buyers. According to a recent survey commissioned by Ford, nine in 10 consumers are interested in driver assist technologies. Hopefully, the auto industry will make these systems standard in years to come.

Source: NY Daily News